Judge rejects Alcor bid to block book

NEW YORK -- A New York judge has rejected a bid by a cryonics foundation to block the release of a book that alleges Hall of Famer Ted Williams' severed head was mistreated at its Arizona facility.

State Supreme Court Judge James Yates issued an order Monday saying that Larry Johnson can discuss and promote his book, the New York Daily News reported. Johnson is the author of "Frozen" and a former executive at the Alcor Life Extension Foundation.

Johnson claims a technician took baseball-like swings at Williams' frozen head with a monkey wrench. "Frozen" is scheduled to be released Tuesday by Vanguard Press.

Claudia Williams, the youngest child of the Boston Red Sox star, issued a statement through an attorney saying she was "horrified and shocked" by Yates' decision.

The last player to hit over .400 in a season, Williams died in 2002 at age 83 and had his remains sent to Alcor for cryogenic storage.